Boy Hit, Killed Near School

Seven-year-old Darts Into Street In Lauderhill

Lauderhill — A 7-year-old boy on his way home from after-school tutoring at Royal Palm Elementary was hit by a van and killed Wednesday in front of schoolmates and neighbors.

Walking with a group of about a dozen children and adults, Joey Avilma ran east on Northwest 19th Street, just outside of the crosswalk. Witnesses said Joey saw the white van traveling north on Northwest 55th Avenue and tried to run back across the street, but it was too late.

The van's driver, Clifton Daley, 24, and others stopped to help, but police said Joey suffered extensive head injuries. The boy died at Broward General Medical Center shortly after the 4:30 p.m. accident.

Questions, anger and sorrow surfaced when word of Joey's death traveled back to the intersection where relatives and neighbors gathered.

Some called for Daley to be handcuffed and hauled off to jail. Others asked why there were no crossing guards at the intersection, in front of Mission Lake Plaza. The area was bustling with children leaving after-school programs or attending the nearby Lauderhill Boys and Girls Club and YMCA.

Others silently shook their heads in disbelief.

Police said Daley seemed to do everything right. He stopped at the stop sign and noticed the group of young children waiting at the east side of the intersection. Then he proceeded.

"He was observant of what was going on around him," said police Lt. Tundra King. "He said the kid came from nowhere. Said he looked up and there the kid was."

Daley was not charged Wednesday, and police said the investigation is continuing.

King said crossing guards are at the intersection when school lets out at about 2:15 p.m. but by 4:30 p.m. they've gone.

"Teachers walk the kids, everyday, down here to the crossing guards," King said. "The crossing guards shoo them on in one big group, [but] it was extremely late, two hours after school."

Still, there were two adults with Joey and the group of children when the accident occurred, King said.

Alyssa Carswell, 17, was on her way to the Boys and Girls Club when she witnessed the accident.

One of the adults "crossed the street before the kids and told them to wait," Carswell said. The woman, she said, told them that she would let them know when it was OK to cross.

Joey "just took off running," Carswell said. "He ran out, and he went back. They were like: `Wait! Wait!' and [the van] just caught him. I was just stung like is this real or is this for fake?"

Just a block away from the intersection, Joey's mother shouted with grief from inside the family's home.

"He's dead. He's dead," she wailed. "He's dead."

Nine-year-old Sonny Avilma stood in the doorway, eyes filled with sadness, and talked about how he and his little brother loved playing Yu-Gi-Oh cards and video games. On Mondays and Wednesdays, they went to after-school tutoring for math and reading.

He was walking with Joey and the others Wednesday, when his little brother suddenly ran ahead. "I was trying to catch up with him, but he ran too fast," Sonny said.

By the time Sonny pushed his way through the crowd, his brother was on the ground.

King said grief counselors would be at the school today.

Akilah Johnson can be reached at akjohnson@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4631.